‘Noodle King’ to Make Little Norway in Incheon
By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
Lee Chul-ho, 72, CEO of Rea & Way, a trading company doing business with Norway, says he plans to create a Norwegian town in Incheon and promote bilateral exchange. Lee is promoting seafood from Norway.
``Storage houses will be first set up near Incheon International Airport where ships are also anchored, followed by the establishment of Norwegian restaurants and shops," said Lee, nicknamed ``Noodle King'' for his hit noodle product ``Mr. Lee'' in Norway.
Local government officials of Incheon have already given him the green light, he said Sunday.
The plan began four years ago when the Norwegian prime minister visited South Korea and felt his country was not well known here.
Lee, who has lived in Norway since the 1950-53 Korean War, is living proof in the history of Korea-Norway relations.
During the war, he was seriously wounded, and a Norwegian doctor serving in a mobile army surgical hospital sent him to Norway for further treatment. Lee attributes his survival to the doctor's help.
In Norway, he is the most renowned man from Korea, as his noodles have cornered 80 percent of the local market.
``People say Mr. Lee, not noodles, when they want to have noodles in Norway,'' he said. ``Europeans are well aware of and like the noodles as one of the traditional Asian foods.''
Spending about 53 years in Norway, he realized there is something Koreans should remember: Unless the United Nations decided to send its troops to fight against North Korea and its allies, South Korea would be just like the economically destitute North Korea.
Actually, he indirectly contributed to the United Nations' decision. As he was living next door to former Norwegian U.N. Secretary-General Tyrgve Lie, he informed Lie of Korea's achievements.
``Norwegians are very encouraged by Korea because it successfully developed from the ashes of war,'' he said. ``Norway has supported and still supports poor countries around the world, but Korea is the only country which outstandingly developed with the support.''
So, Koreans should reciprocate, reaching out to help others in need, he added.
``My country is both Norway and Korea,'' he said. ``My job is to let Koreans know more about Norway, and let Norwegians know more about Korea.''